California was ground zero for turning the tide on same-sex marriage. It was among the first states to outlaw sexual orientation discrimination. Yet some California employers cling to their biases, denying job opportunities, mistreating LGBT workers or failing to uphold their rights. When this happens, it is important to contact an Orange County sexual orientation discrimination lawyer to help advocate for your rights and future.
At California Employment Counsel, APC, we stand up for those who have suffered workplace discrimination or termination of employment because they are gay, lesbian or transgender. We can pursue money damages, reinstatement or other remedies for holding those employers to justice.
Free Initial Consultation · No Recovery, No Attorney Fee
Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), employers may not discriminate against employees on the basis of their sexual orientation or sexual preference, actual or perceived. Despite strong and clear sexual orientation discrimination laws, we are regularly called upon to represent clients who have experienced sexual orientation discrimination in employment:
LGBT discrimination may range from blatant and egregious anti-gay behavior to subtle biases or tactics, such as negative job reviews. In building a case, we help clients document a pattern of discrimination and the employer’s response. We can guide you through every step of the legal process.
California employment law provides workers with some of the strongest workplace protections for LGBTQ+ employees in the country. However, workplace discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees continues to occur across industries. Some examples of discrimination are obvious, but other times employers are more subtle, making discrimination harder to detect. Sexual orientation discrimination may include:
When facing discrimination at work, learning to identify these types of behaviors can help you take the first steps in protecting your rights.
Approximately 34% of LGBTQ workers said they had at least one instance of employment discrimination, such as being terminated, not offered employment, or not promoted, and 37% said they had at least one instance of harassment at work at some point in their lives because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
Twelve percent of LGBTQ employees reported experiencing harassment in the previous year, and eleven percent reported experiencing discrimination due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. Employees who suffer illegal discrimination in the workplace can seek to recover compensation for monetary and personal losses they incurred due to their employer’s misconduct, including the following:
Employees may also be able to seek relief in the form of reinstatement to their prior position, promotion to a position from which they were unlawfully denied, changes to company policies, and reimbursement of attorney’s fees and costs.
Ray and Nick were an amazing team to work with during a very hard time in my life. Both worked diligently on a resolution and I am happy to say…
I was lost and calling around for advice to help me with my work situations. Nick was there to help me through it all even when he wasn’t my lawyer…
When I first reached out to Ray and Melissa, I had been terminated from my position for complaining of sexual harassment. Immediately I knew I was in good hands with…
Sexual orientation discrimination can be difficult to prove. Employers rarely admit that their decisions were motivated by bias against an employee’s sexual orientation. Instead, they often try to provide a legitimate reason for their adverse employment action, such as poor job performance.
When you hire a sexual discrimination lawyer, they can investigate the facts of your claim, obtain employment records, interview witnesses, preserve important evidence, and determine if there is a pattern of discriminatory conduct towards other employees. An Orange County sexual orientation discrimination attorney can also check for any additional violations, including retaliation, improper termination, or the withholding of other protected benefits.
Our Orange County sexual orientation discrimination lawyers handle cases throughout Southern California. To tell us your story, contact us online or call 714-462-8376 or toll free at 866-545-2415 to arrange a free consultation.
The Orange County Superior Court system, which includes procedures at the Santa Ana courthouse, may ultimately be used to advocate in workplace discrimination cases for workers in Orange County and throughout Southern California.
555 Anton Blvd,
Suite 150
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Call: 714-361-0864
Contact Now
714-462-8376
555 Anton Blvd., Suite 150,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Fields marked with an * are required
"*" indicates required fields
Copyright © 2026 California Employment Counsel, APC• All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy. Digital Marketing By: 
*Images are obtained under license from Canva and other third-party stock image providers, with attribution included where required.
